Army Veteran Turned Discipline and Teamwork into Success with Dryer Vent Wizard of Wisconsin
Dean Culver draws on a wide variety of work experience, including Army service, in running his two Dryer Vent Wizard franchise locations in Wisconsin. He invested in the brand more than 11 years ago when “I was looking for something that I could work with my hands, not be stuck in an office, and meet and interact with lots of different people. Dryer Vent Wizard did not disappoint.”
Culver, who served in the Army from 1982 to 1985, says his military service has been instrumental to his business success. “Being in the military helped me to gain confidence, self-discipline and develop decision-making skills. Those combined skills help me to make bold decisions and take the action needed to run and develop my franchise business.”
Culver also credits the military with teaching him the importance of teamwork. He uses feedback from his five employees when making business decisions. “I also like to empower them to make decisions while they are out in the field. That helps them to deliver the best customer experience possible.”
He learned lessons in customer experience when managing a Red Lobster after leaving the Army. Culver has worn other career hats, too: He founded and ran a nonprofit organization for 12- to 18-year-olds, and he worked in accounting for about 20 years.
Today he has two Dryer Vent Wizard territories in southeast Wisconsin and the Madison area. Culver counts himself lucky because “both areas are growing with new home construction and multifamily housing complexes. My territories are very diverse and full of great people.”
Family-Friendly Business
Another positive: His Dryer Vent Wizard business is family-friendly. “Cooking is my hobby. The way I run my business gives me the opportunity to make dinner every night for my wife, Julie. This business also has given me the opportunity at one time or another to employ my daughter and four sons, as well as my wife’s nephews. Currently my daughter, Nora, who’s 45, heads online marketing, and my 28-year-old son Josiah is my lead technician.”
The military gives us the discipline and skills to be successful franchise operators.
For Culver, the pluses of his franchise outweigh the business challenges, which include employee hiring and retention. In addition, he has faced the personal challenges of cancer and heart disease. “But those challenges are also part of the reward. When you go through those challenges and get to the other side, you feel a real sense of accomplishment. You know that you are where you are because of your faith, your efforts, and your blood, sweat and tears.”
He encourages other veterans to explore opportunities in franchising. “The military gives us the discipline and skills to be successful franchise operators. There are lots of programs specifically for veterans to help get started. Take advantage of all of them.”
The Dryer Vent Wizard franchise, part of the Neighborly family of brands, has more than 100 units operating, and territories are available around the U.S. and in Canada. Culver praises Neighborly as being “very open to communication and feedback. I really feel that our franchise value has gone way up as a result of being purchased by Neighborly in 2020.”
Dry Vent Wizard Franchise Advantages
Dryer Vent Wizard owners appreciate:
- The brand’s home-based model, which means low overhead.
- Multiple revenue streams: commercial and residential dryer vent cleaning, repairs, inspection and maintenance.
- The family-friendly workweek, with few emergency call-outs.
- Excellent camaraderie with other franchisees of the brand.
- Repeat business and recurring revenue.
- The Neighborly umbrella franchisor, which specializes in home services. It has a code of values for living and working with integrity.
- Its low initial franchise fee of $49,900. A franchisee’s total prelaunch investment can be less than $81,000.
- Extensive support and assistance (training, creation of a local marketing program, a consultant and a business coach).
The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning
A dryer fire breaks out every 37 minutes in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Agency — and many of these fires could be prevented with professional dryer vent cleaning. That’s why services like Dryer Vent Wizard are in high demand. With safety concerns on the rise, the global dryer vent cleaning market is expected to reach $850 million by 2032.
For more information about the Dryer Vent Wizard franchise, click here.
